SAN FRANCISCO: Elon Musk has announced that X, previously known as Twitter, will soon introduce an ad-free version of its X Premium subscription, giving users the option to pay and not see advertisements.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, stated that the platform will provide a “lower cost” version of Premium, encompassing all subscription features without a reduction in ads, as well as a more expensive ad-free alternative. However, specific pricing details and the launch date for these subscription tiers were not disclosed.
For just over €9 (RM35 locally) per month, X Premium grants users a verification badge, the ability to edit posts after sending them, and the freedom to post longer text and video content.
Since Musk assumed control of Twitter, the platform has experienced a significant decline in revenue, with advertisers leaving due to concerns regarding the new owner’s content moderation approach and stance on free speech.
Last week, the European Union initiated an investigation into X’s handling of disinformation and harmful content related to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
To counter the decline in advertising revenue, X has turned to subscriptions as an additional income stream. Recently, the company began conducting a trial in New Zealand and the Philippines, requiring new users to pay an annual fee of US$1 (RM4.77) solely to post and respond to others. Musk had previously hinted at such a feature, suggesting that eventually all users might be required to pay to continue using the platform.
Musk believes that asking users to pay to post is an effective method for combating bots and spam accounts. He argues that requiring credit card details would discourage individuals running bot networks from utilizing the site. – dpa
